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Controlling Diverticulitis Naturally

Have you been diagnosed with diverticulitis? Welcome to one of the fastest growing groups in the United States today. Diverticulitis is ranked in the top six disorders diagnosed at ambulatory care centers, and there were more than 236,000 deaths, in the United States, with a digestive disease as the underlying cause. This represents 9.8 percent of all deaths, during that year, according to the studies*. CBD Oil Manufacturer

The United States lead the world by an almost 75% margin in documented cases of the disorder. And, it really comes down to two issues; first, the endless ingestion of toxic substances that we are allowing in our bodies, both knowingly and unknowingly and second, the drugs commonly prescribed by the medical community. It may be time to consider a more natural, logical approach, through the use of lifestyle changes, healthy nutrition and natural herbal choices.

It is important to understand how diverticulitis develops. Pouches (diverticula) form in the wall of the large intestine and food particles and feces become lodged in these pouches. They look like small balloons protruding from the exterior wall of the colon. This is called diverticulosis. When bacteria forms and the pouches become inflamed or infected it becomes a more serious illness, diverticulitis.

Diverticulitis can range from a mild infection to a severe one, depending on lifestyle and nutritional habits. Over time, the walls of the intestine may break down and then begin to tear from the pressure of food particles or feces pushing them through the intestinal wall. If the infection spills into the abdominal cavity (peritoneal), it can infect the abdominal wall, and may develop into peritonitis.

This infection, in turn, may spread to other parts of the body (sepsis). If an abnormal opening, a fistula, forms between two parts of the large intestine, or between the large intestine and other organs, such as the bladder or urethra, the bacteria and infection can spread to these organs as well. And ultimately, diverticulitis can cause bowel obstruction in the colon.

So, you can see where this is going. Once you have been diagnosed with diverticulitis, you will, in all likelihood, need to control the symptoms for the rest of your life. Look at it as a condition, like diabetes or asthma. It doesn’t have to lessen the quality of your life and can actually improve it, if you control the condition by using natural, logical methods.

The most common course of treatment in standard American medicine is to prescribe a pharmaceutical solution. The most commonly prescribed drug is Cipro. The problem with this drug, like so many chemically created drugs, is that the lingering side effects created by fluoroquinolones, the active ingredient in ciprogloxacin, can cause chronic illness and disability.

The longer you are exposed to the drug, the more likely it is that you will be adversely affected by it. Side effects and contraindications of the drugs doctors prescribe are readily available in the Physician’s Desk Reference. I do not recall any doctor I have dealt with for a relative or myself that has ever explained this in detail when prescribing a drug. It is rare that a doctor discusses these possibilities with their patients.

Furthermore, this drug does not heal the diverticula (the pouch); this is just an antibiotic to kill the bacterium that exists during the time you are taking the drug. If you do not change your digestive environment, the diverticulitis will likely return and you will likely be prescribed more Cipro.

The problem with this is that your body, over time, develops an immunity to antibiotics, then the antibiotics begin to ravage your “good” bacteria, which further breaks down your immune system and makes you more and more susceptible to the spread of infection, caused by new episodes of gathering bacteria in the diverticula.

Aside from the immune issues, according to the FDA, Ciproflaxin (the active ingredient contained in Cipro) may cause allergic reactions, such as; hives; difficult breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, can occur while taking this medication. Other possible side effects include, severe dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeats, sudden pain, snapping or popping sound, bruising, swelling, tenderness, stiffness, or loss of movement in any of your joints, diarrhea that is watery or bloody, confusion, hallucinations, depression, unusual thoughts or behavior, seizure (convulsions), severe headache, ringing in your ears, dizziness, nausea, vision problems, pain behind your eyes, pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, weakness, urinating less than usual or not at all, easy bruising or bleeding, numbness, tingling, severe skin reaction, fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling. Less serious side effects of ciprofloxacin may include; nausea, vomiting, dizziness or drowsiness, blurred vision, feeling nervous, anxious, or agitated, and/or sleep problems (insomnia or nightmares). The onset of pseudomembranous colitis symptoms may occur during or after antimicrobial treatment.

So, how do you get off this Merry-Go-Round?

As with almost any malady, the most important course of action should include changes in diet, exercise and lifestyle. But, there are many natural sources that can help restore balance to your digestive system and stem the damage caused by environmental effects.

Here are some herbal options that may speed up the healing process. Probably the most important contribution of these herbs is that they can provide nutritional elements that are lacking in most diets. To maximize the healing effects of herbs, try use a liquid tincture formula. The liquid formulas, when made with alcohol, have a very long shelf life, (about 5 years). A glycerin base will last about 2 years. Because you only need a small amount, usually 12 to 14 drops three times a day, it makes them more cost effective than other herbal forms. They will process in your system more rapidly and will maximize absorption of the herbal properties.